BRITISH MOTORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4430, 22 March 1930, Page 1

BRITISH MOTORS.

A OR AND DEMONSTRATION. A grand tom - of motor voliicltfs of Great Britain has been organised under llie auspices of the British (U.K.) Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders of England. About 30 models of leadiny British cars and trucks will participate, and will demonstrate to those interested in motor transport in all its phases, the reason! why Great Britain leads the world in high grade motor engineering.

The grand tour commences on Monday, 24th March, when the vehicles will be lined up for public inspection in Jervois Quay at 9 a.m. The inspection will be followed by a grand procession through the principal streets of the city, and proceed to Wanganui, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Hastings, and return via Wairarapa, calling at all important towns en route. The grand tour will conclude at the Town Hall, Wellington, on the evening of April 2nd, when speeches will be delivered by H. M. Trade Commissioner, Mr. L. A. Paisli, Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards, President of Lhe Britihs (U.K.) Manufacturers' Association and others.

The various towns through which the procession will proceed have taken the scheme up with the greatest enthusiasm and have organised Mayoral receptions, local processions, etc.

The' grand tour of motor vehicle's of Great Britain, though ostensibly a display of England’s predominance in the motor world, conveys a message of vital importance to every individual in New Zealand. It is a solemn reminder that Great Britain is the main market for our produce, and that upon the prosperity of Great Britain depends the very existence of New Zealand. A prosperous England means a prosperous New Zealand. How can England be prosperous if we in New Zealand continue to buy the bulk of our requirements from foreign lands?

The money we send to foreign lands will not provide British workmen with the necessary wages to buy our wool, butter, cheese, meat, etc.; it will not enable British Financiers to loan us money for the development of our country; it ivill not provide us with the British Navy to protect our lives and commerce. Surely it is quite plain to anyone that with England taking the bulk of our produce, and we in turn taking less than half our requirements from England, in time we will be forced to ask ourselves how long is it reasonable to expecL England to be interested in our welfare, whilst we studiously neglect her interests, it is only human nature, and economically sound, for England to be mainly interested -in those countries which trade with her. In this regard, we in New Zealand must closely watch our competitors. South America, for instance, is sending more and more of her produce to the English market and is taking British goods in return,

'Consider this point: England is taking proportionately more of New Zealand’s produce than she is from any other country, and New Zealand of all countries of the British Empire, is taking less from England than any''other British dependency. Are we not to blame in allowing this dangerous state of things to continue, especially when the remedy lies in our own hands? You are not asked to buy inferior goods; British goods stand predominant in quality and value for money the world over. Take our- British iuo; tor-cars and commercial vehicles: There are no vehicles which can compare with them for efficiency, quality and economy in operation. The prices in some eases may be slightly higher than the cheapest of foreign countries, but the value is unquestionably there, and they are worth what is asked for them. Ail that our competitors can say against British motors is that they last too long. Forget the slogan of foreign salesmen who state that British ears are unsuitable for New Zealand, and try these British ears for yourselves. You will hnd that not only are they suitable for any conditions you may mee_t with in New Zealand, but there is noue so suitable. 'Surely, the country that lias learned so much iu motor engineering that she holds the world s record on the land, on the sea and in the air, is capable of producing motor vehicles to suit your road conditions and your pocket.

Depreciation in motor vehicles is the greatest expense in motoring, and fuel comes second. In both these expenses, British vehicles can show you au overwhelming saving as against foreign cars. The grand tour of motor vehicles is organised to give the farmers especially au opportunity of seeing the latest models of British motor

vehicles. It is the farmer who sho-

uld be specially interested. The prosperity of New Zealand depends first and foremost upon the primary producers, and the prosperity of the primary producers depends lipon the state of British trade. All are urged to seize this opportunity to show their interest in British goods, and by example and precept uphold the slogan of “Buy British because it is best.” The grand tour will he in the charge of Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards, President of the British (U.K.) Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand.